Bumper for vehicles



Ndv. 29, 1927.

BUMPER FOR VEHICLES Filed March 1927 H. E. CLAY INVENTOR A rromvsy iatented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

HARVEY E. CLAY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, TO VIOLVERINE BUMPER ANDSPECIALTY 00., OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BUMPER FOR, VEHICLEfE.

Application filed March 30, 1927. Serial No. 1'79, -42.

The present invention relates to bumpers for vehicles; and its objectis, generally,to provide an improved device of that character wherebythe vehicle would be protected from injuries which might otherwiseresult from contact with extraneous objects; and further, to providesuch a device having an impact bar provided with improved strengtheningmeans and being freely turnably mounted at its ends.

This object is attained by, and the invention finds preferableembodiment in, the structure hereinafter particularly described in thebody of this specification and illus trated by the accompanyingdrawings, in

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bumper for vehicles;

Figure 2 is a front or face view thereof;

Figure 3 'is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on lines 3-3of Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of parts thereof taken on eitherof the lines 4L-1 of the other views.

In the construction illustrated by said drawings, a bumper for vehicles,such as automobiles, is shown comprising horizontallydisposed springimpact bars 1 connected at their opposite ends by means of verticalpintles 2 with the supporting horizontallydisposed rear spring bar 3which is mounted on the vehicle by suitable supports 4. In theconstruction illustrated the impact element comprises a pair of suchbars 1, 1, the rear bar 3 extending at its ends between the adjacentends of said impact bars. The ends of the rear bars are, in theconstruction shown, curled around the middle portions of thevertically-disposed pintles and thus support the same, while the ends ofthe impact bars 1, 1 are in like manner curled around the pintles aboveand below the ends of the rear bar, and swingably bear on the saidpintles whenever the impact bars receive a thrust which springs the sameout of normal position. These impact bars 1, 1 comprise upper and lowerlongitudinallyextending flat portions 5, 5 and an intermediatelongitudinally-extending portion 6 which is bow-ed outwardly so thatsaid intermediate longitudinally-extending portion has across-sectionally convex outer surface 7 and a cross-sectionally concaveinner surfaceS. It will be seen that this cross-sectionally bowedportion of the impact bar adds to its strength by enabling the bar tobetter resist deforming thrusts, while the inner surface 8 of the endportions of the impact bars which curl around the pintles, being spacedaway by reason of their concave formation from the Jintles, enables theimpact bar upon receiving a thrust from an extraneous object to morereadily turn on the pintles.

In the illustrated construction, clamping members 9, 10, connected by ascrew bolt 11, serve to hold the impactbars 1, 1 in vertically spacedrelation adjacent their middle portions.

The invention being intended to be point ed out in the claims, is not tobe limited to or by details of construction of the par ticularembodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings or hereinbeforedescribed.

I claim:

1. In a bumper for vehicles: axiallyweu tical supporting pintles; ahorizontally disposed impact bar having ends curled around and swingablybearing on the pintles respectively, said ends having a crosssectionallyconvex outer surface and a crosssectionally concave inner surface.

2. In a bumper for vehicles: axially-vertical supporting pintles; ahorizontally-disposed impact bar having ends curled. around andswingably bearing on the pintles respectively, said ends comprisingupper and lower longitudinally-extendiug flat portions and anintermediate longitudinally-extending portion. having aci'osseectionally convex outer surface and a cross-sectionall concaveinner surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand Rapids,Michigan, this 24th day of March, 1927.

HARVEY E. CLAY.

